Art Fair review by be-Art Magazine: Photo LA, 2013 edition

The 22nd International Los Angeles Photographic Art exposition has found the right path to rejuvenate

The 22nd session was critical for the organizers of the exhibition “Photo la”. Actually, this year they had to face the arrival on the LA art scene of the world’s leading photo art fairs “Paris Photo” which will take place in April under the name of “Paris Photo Los Angeles.” The effects are already being felt this year as only 40 galleries (on 66 booths) were present at the fair.

Must be remembered that Steve Cohen, gallery owner and Creator and Director of “Photo LA” was the first to have had this incredible idea to show a specific medium which is a photograph, at a time when the photo was not yet part of art Market circuit. It was in 1992 when Paris Photo has been created four years later in 1996.

BUT, despite the bad context, it sounds like Steve Cohen has found some interesting way to rejuvenate and surprised everyone with the second strong edition of Emerging focus.

“Emerging Focus” was so far, the most interesting addition to the the art fair since 2012.

“Emerging Focus” is initiated and lead by Bony Taylor-Diadhiou of The Icon –the premiere destination in photographic imaging.

Our mission is to provide a platform for these artists to distinguish themselves and their work, to exhibit their art and their approaches, and to lead them into the world of fine art photography and foster their relationships with galleries, collectors, dealers, curators, and enthusiasts.

We asked to Bony Taylor-Diadhiou about the purpose of Emerging focus:

And actually the level of the 20 finalists selected was pretty good ; see below

and the Winners are:

Grand Prize:
2nd Place:
3rd Place:

Another great “nouveauté” that was missing and that upgrades the fair was the presence of Julie Novakoff-Smith, Art consultant and Director of Nova Fine Art.
Her interview below:

be-Art top 5 this time just goes to 2:

#1 is

The Queensland Centre for Photography

Year after year they come to the fair to let us discover wonderful photographers from Australia.
Among those: Petrina Hicks, Alix Perry and this year Ana Carey, Catherine Nelson, Magdalena Bors and Christian Thompson to name just a few.

see more about Anna Carey, Catherine Nelson, Magdalena Bors with Director Mauricio Ortega here: